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Electric tricycles in Havana do not operate during the afternoon peak hours due to the limited capacity of their batteries, which allow for a maximum of 16 trips per day without additional recharging.
This issue, acknowledged by Cuba's Minister of Transportation, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, in a recent post on his Facebook profile, leaves a gap in coverage during the period between three in the afternoon and evening, which is considered one of the critical times for people's mobility and when these means of transportation are most needed.
To address this issue, solutions such as implementing a split schedule to cover peak hours in the morning and afternoon, or strengthening evening routes with internal combustion vehicles, are being studied, emphasized the head of the department.
Currently, the service has 153 electric tricycles distributed across 17 routes that cover nine municipalities in the capital: Cerro, Plaza de la Revolución, Centro Habana, Habana Vieja, Boyeros, Guanabacoa, Playa, and Marianao.
According to the minister, since September, 35 new tricycles have been added, which allowed for the opening of two new routes in the Plaza de la Revolución municipality and the extension of another route that now connects Línea and 20 with the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital.
Between September 30 and November 22, this service made 14,464 trips, transporting 86,784 passengers.
Another issue faced by this mode of transportation, as admitted by Rodríguez, is the frequent technical breakdowns and complaints regarding the misconduct of some drivers, which impact the quality of service.
The minister indicated that between September and October, 16 inspections were conducted at the Fontanar station, resulting in nine disciplinary measures that included fines of up to 1,250 CUP, the suspension of contracts, and preventive actions aimed at improving staff behavior. These actions were also implemented on other routes.
In September, the fleet of electric tricycles operating in Havana received an addition of 35 new vehicles, which will join the 118 that were already in service in the city.
According to the Minister of Transport, who shared the information on his Facebook profile, these services currently operate 15 routes across eight municipalities.
"At the moment, the authorities of the province are assessing how to distribute them in the best possible way," he said on that occasion.
With the addition of these new electric tricycles, two new routes for passenger transportation have been established in Havana.
The first route connected points 23 and 26 with 23 and L, both urban nodes located in El Vedado, while the second route linked 23 and 26 with the Sports City and the Joaquín Albarrán Clinical Surgical Hospital (Clinico de 26) in El Cerro, Rodríguez reported via Facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions About Electric Tricycles in Havana
Why don’t electric tricycles operate in Havana during the afternoon rush hour?
They do not operate during the afternoon peak hours due to the limited capacity of their batteries, which only allow for a maximum of 16 trips per day without additional recharging. This situation leaves a gap in service between three in the afternoon and night, a critical time for mobility in the city.
How many electric tricycles are currently in operation in Havana?
In Havana, there are 153 electric tricycles in operation, distributed across 17 routes that cover nine municipalities of the Cuban capital. This number includes a recent addition of 35 new tricycles.
What measures are being considered to improve the operation of electric tricycles in Havana?
To improve the operation of electric tricycles, solutions are being evaluated such as implementing a split schedule to cover peak hours in the morning and afternoon, and reinforcing evening routes with internal combustion vehicles. Additionally, disciplinary measures are being taken to address the misconduct and technical failures that impact service quality.
What are the main issues faced by electric tricycles in Havana?
The main issues include the limited capacity of the batteries, which prevents continuous operation throughout the day, as well as frequent technical breakdowns, in addition to complaints about the indiscipline of some drivers. These challenges directly impact the quality and availability of the transportation service.
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